2023-08-06 15:34:08
With three bikes in the top five, Aprilia had an absolute MotoGP celebration at Silverstone. With his second MotoGP victory following Argentina in 2022, spearhead Aleix Espargaró provided the absolute icing on the cake following tricking world champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia on the last lap.
The older of the two Espargaró brothers already showed a trick at the beginning – following starting from position 12, he was already in the top 5 at the beginning of the second lap. “It was one of those days when you have the feeling that you can do anything,” said the 34-year-old, who hugged his twins Max and Mia in the Parc Fermé alongside his crew.
“It feels good, I’m very happy to be back on the podium. I made a lot of mistakes at the beginning of the year. We always had the speed, but you have to be quick on Sunday. Unfortunately, so far we don’t have the points we deserve. Today I knew I had good pace.”
Aleix commented on his maneuver that led to the victory once morest Bagnaia: «I already had the feeling on Friday that I might straighten the bike up and accelerate faster. That was the key, Maverick has been better and better lately. Our bike is very competitive, but still not the best bike in the field. I was faster than Pecco in turns 1 and 2. But then I almost fell there following a highside. Then I focused on catching up.”
Then the right moment came: “In the last corner of the old track variant, Pecco had clearly poorer traction. I knew that for the next lap and it was clear to me that his tires would then also have less temperature for the next corner. Then I was very determined. I braked late, I went to the outside and just accelerated at full speed.”
Aleix admitted: “From 12th on the grid, I wasn’t really under any pressure. I knew the race would be long and there would be good overtaking opportunities on this wide track. I think it was a mix of some factors that helped me. I was fast in the dry on Friday, the cool conditions today made sure that the tire pressure didn’t go up. But the risk is great if you start from 12th place. Aprilia did a great job on the start electronics. It helped me a lot, it was a great race!”
«In the morning I mounted the rain tires during warm-up, then I came into the pits. to get the slick for the test start. I then saw Maverick going out with the slicks and warned him and his crew – he might fall. But then he said that he would only drive out for the start test. »
Aleix Espargaró continues: «I wasn’t super happy at all today at the moment of victory on the finish line. Because the rain was mentally very exhausting. But then I saw the kids, it was just fantastic, for the first time they were part of a win. In the morning my son Max said to me: ‘Dad, make sure you’re in the leading group, then I can see you on the screens!’»
MotoGP Results, Silverstone (6th August):
1. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 20 Runden in 40:40.367 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.215 sec
3. Binder, KTM, + 0,680
4. Oliveira, Aprilia, + 0.750
5. Viñales, Aprilia, +2,101
6. Martin, Ducati, +7,903
7. Marini, Ducati, + 9,099
8. Miller, KTM, + 9,298
9. Zarco, Ducati, +9,958
10. Raúl Fernández, Aprilia, + 19,947
11. Augusto Fernández, KTM, + 20,296
12. Pol Espargaró, KTM, + 1:06.120 min
13. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 1:27,605
14. Morbidelli, Yamaha, + 1:28,913
15. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 1:29,075
16. Nakagami, Honda, + 1:38,573
17. Lecuona, Honda, + 1:49,674
– Bastianini, Ducati, 4 laps down
– Marc Marquez, Honda, 6 laps down
– Bezzecchi, Ducati, 15 laps down
– Alex Marquez, Ducati, 15 laps down
– Mir, Honda, 18 laps back
MotoGP Results Sprint, Silverstone (5th August):
1. Alex Márquez, Ducati, 10 Runden in 21:52,317 min
2. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 0.366 sec
3. Vinales, Aprilia, +3,374
4. Zarco, Ducati, +5,671
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 6,068
6. Martin, Ducati, +7,294
7. Miller, KTM, + 9,415
8. Augusto Fernández, KTM, +9.850
9. Binder, KTM, + 10,435
10. Oliveira, Aprilia, +11,247
11. Marini, Ducati, + 17,365
12. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, +20.063
13. Bastianini, Ducati, +24.352
14. Bagnaia, Ducati, +25.527
15. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +27,191
16. Pol Espargaro, KTM, +27,693
17. Mir, Honda, +29.062
18. Marc Marquez, Honda, +29,326
19. Raul Fernandez, Aprilia, +29,627
20. Nakagami, Honda, +29,909
21. Quartararo, Yamaha, +30,326
22. Lecuona, Honda, + 47,674
Championship status following 18 of 40 races:
1. Bagnaia, 214 Punkte. 2. Martin 173. 3. Bezzecchi 167. 4. Binder 131. 5. Zarco 122. 6. Aleix Espargaró 107. 7. Marini 107. 8. Miller 90. 9. Alex Márquez 75. 10. Viñales 75. 11. Quartararo 65. 12. Morbidelli 59. 13. Augusto Fernández 49. 14. Rins 47. 15. Oliveira 40. 16. Di Giannantonio 37. 17. Nakagami 34. 18. 18. Bastianini 18. 19. Marc Márquez 15. 20. Raúl Fernández 14. 21. Pedrosa 13. 22. Savadori 9. 23. Folger 9. 24. Pirro 5. 25. Mir 5. 26. Petrucci 5. 26. Bradl 5. 27. Pol Espargaró 4.
Constructors’ Championship:
1.Ducati, 317 Punkte. 2. KTM 172. 3. Aprilia 153. 4. Honda 89. 5. Yamaha 84.
Team World Cup:
1. Prima Pramac Racing, 295 Punkte. 2. Mooney VR46 Racing 274. 3. Ducati Lenovo Team 242. 4. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 221. 5. Aprilia Racing 181. 6. Monster Energy Yamaha 124. 7. Gresini Racing 112. 8. LCR Honda 84. 9. GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 62. 10. CryptoDATA RNF 58. 11. Repsol Honda 20.
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#Winner #Aleix #Espargaró #Bagnaia #weakness
